Chewable flavor delivery system

ABSTRACT

A flavor delivery system, e.g. oral tobacco substitute comprising a cellulosic plant material dried to 8% or less moisture and having at least 30% cell walls intact, coffee or caffeine extract, non-tobacco flavoring, humectant, minor amount of sweetening agent and optional tobacco flavoring. The compositions can be used as prepared or placed in heat sealable paper pouches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to chewable flavor deliverysystems with sustained release of flavorant containing only naturalingredients.

[0002] Chewing gums, as shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,116,627 and 5,139,787contain, among other things, a flavoring that the user of the gumdesires to have present in the mouth for a period of time.

[0003] Synthetic compositions for providing sustained release offlavorants have been developed. One such composition is illustrated inU.S. Pat. No. 4,992,280.

[0004] Even animals have been provided with extended flavor releasingtoys, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,219.

[0005] In addition to chewing gums, there is a segment of the populationthat uses what is referred to as smokeless tobacco. The smokelesstobacco is taken orally and can be flavored or unflavored. Smokelesstobacco can be chewed much like chewing gum. Chewing tobacco is usuallyformed in strands or larger pieces of the tobacco leaf. Smokelesstobacco can also be placed loose between the cheek and gum, with thistype usually manufactured in small granular form. Another form ofsmokeless tobacco is finely divided tobacco particles that are packedinto porous paper pouches, which are also placed between the cheek andgum.

[0006] The flavor enjoyment of smokeless tobacco comes partially fromthe initial flavor burst from any flavors such as peppermint, apple,peach and the like that are added to the tobacco and lastly, the slowrelease of the tobacco flavor itself.

[0007] In the past, mixing flavors with a substrate such as a cellulosepowder has been tried as a tobacco substitute but found to beunsatisfactory. This has been due to the fact that the flavors wash outof the substrate thus, they do not last as long as tobacco basedproducts.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to find a tobacco substitute that inessence eliminates the use of the tobacco leaf itself and may use onlyminor amounts of tobacco flavoring.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention uses a dried cellulosic material, e.g.cabbage, which is prepared into strand form or relatively coarsegranules. The cellulosic material is dried to a moisture content of lessthan 8% by weight and is prepared in a manner so that at least 30% ofthe cell walls of the cellulosic material remains in tact. Thecellulosic material is combined with flavoring ingredients and ahumectant to achieve the final composition which can be chewed or usedwithout chewing in the mouth of a user.

[0010] Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is a chewableflavor delivery system comprising in combination; a carrier consistingof an edible cellulosic plant material dried to a moisture content of ator below 8% by weight, the plant material having at least 30% intactcell walls, a water soluble but not water containing flavoringingredient in liquid form and capable of entering the intact cell wallsin the plant material, and an effective amount of a food safe humectantcontained in the delivery system.

[0011] In another aspect the present invention is a flavor deliverysystem comprising in combination; a heat sealable paper pouch adapted tobe placed in the mouth of a user, and a mixture comprising an ediblecellulosic plant material having at least 30% intact cell walls, aflavoring ingredient, incorporated into the plant material and ahumectant, inserted into said paper pouch.

[0012] In yet another aspect the present invention is a tobaccosubstitute comprising in combination; an edible cellulose plant materialdried to a moisture content at or below 8% by weight, the plant materialhaving at least 30% intact cell walls, a water soluble but not watercontaining flavoring ingredient in liquid form and capable of enteringthe intact cell walls in the plant material, and an effective amount ofa food safe humectant.

[0013] In still a further aspect, the present invention is a tobaccosubstitute comprising in combination 26 to 46 percent by weightcellulosic plant material having at least about 30% intact cell walls;29 to 53% by weight humectant; 11 to 14% by weight being one of coffeeor caffeine 0.7 to 1% by weight sweetening agent; and 5 to 10% by weightflavoring ingredient other than tobacco.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] In recent years, much as been written about the oral use oftobacco either as chewing tobacco or what is sometimes referred to assnuff, a finally divided granular tobacco that is placed loosely betweenthe cheek and gum or is packed into porous paper pouches and which canbe placed between the cheek and gum of the user.

[0015] Confirmed oral tobacco users could attempt to stop the use ofconventional oral tobacco products if a chewable flavor delivery systemsimulating oral tobacco were devised.

[0016] According to the present invention, such an oral tobaccosubstitute can be manufactured using dried cellulosic material such asfreeze dried cabbage. The freeze- dried cabbage is combined with aflavoring, humectant, minor amounts of a sweetener and optionally acoloring ingredient to simulate oral tobacco.

[0017] The humectant is selected to provide, in the case of smokelesstobacco, like properties of cohesiveness and wetness. In otherapplications the humectant will act as a lubricant that will not promotemicrobiological growth while giving the appearance of wetness. Inaddition to glycerins and propylene glycol vegetable oils can be used.

[0018] It is also within the purview of the present invention to achieveother chewable flavor delivery systems, the salient feature of theinvention being the use of a 5 cellulosic material dried to a moisturecontent of 8% or below and having at least 30% of the cell walls intact.

[0019] One particular cellulosic material that is found to beparticularly effective in the present invention is a freeze dried greencabbage, which is classified as Brassica, oleraeca capitata sold by R.J. Van Drunen & Sons Inc. of Momence, Ill. Freeze-dried green cabbagegranules having a size range from minus twelve (−12) to plus thirty(+30) mesh determined by using a U.S. Standard Sieve Series apparatusare particularly effective for use in the present invention.

[0020] Set forth in Table 1 are a series of compositions that wereprepared according to the present invention. TABLE 1 SAMPLE (% byweight) COMPONENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 CABBAGE 46.96 44.5 48.0 (−20 +30)CABBAGE 40.00 40.00 40.00 40.00 (−16 +20) CABBAGE 26.82 (−12 +20) USP31.33 29.55 31.33 53.62 42.90 42.83 GLYCRINE 96% PROPYLENE 42.90 42.83GLYCOL COLOMBIAN 13.20 13.20 13.40 11.0 11.00 11.00 11.00 COFFEE*CAFFEINE 13.64 IRISH CREME 6.40 5.36 5.36 5.36 5.36 5.36 FLAVORPEPPERMINT 7.00 9.09 FLAVOR TOBACCO 0.54 0.45 0.10 FLAVOR ASPARTAME 0.980.95 0.98 0.80 0.7 0.7 0.81 0.81 CARMEL 1.82 COLOR

[0021] Sample 1 in Table 1 was prepared by adding the aspartame andcoffee to dry cabbage granules, which were then mixed well. Thereafter,glycerin and flavors were added with further mixing. The composition wasthen packaged into Dexter No. 11557 heat sealable paper pouches, whichare approximately 0.5 inches by 0.8 inches in dimension. Each pouchcontained approximately 0.35 grams of the composition. The pouches werepretreated by being dipped into a solution containing, water,Freeze-dried (instant) Colombian Coffee 1A-BBB, natural peppermintflavor 2006, aspartame and Frutarom tobacco flavor 36.210. FD(freeze-dried) Colombian Coffee 1A-BBB is the same coffee used inpreparing sample 1 and is available from American Instants of Flanders,N.J. The natural peppermint flavor is available from Mother Murphy ofGreensboro, N.C. and the tobacco flavoring is available from Frutarom ofNorth Bergen, N.J. The pouches were air dried after dipping and beforefilling.

[0022] Sample 2 was prepared using cabbage granules having a particlesize of minus 20 plus 30 mesh, natural caffeine anhydrous U.S.P.available from Haglin Flavors of Branchberg, N.J, natural peppermintflavor #2006, caramel color 325 available from Sethness of Clinton,Iowa, aspartame and Frutarom tobacco flavor 36.210. The pouches intowhich sample 2 were packed were the same size as the pouches used forsample 1, except that the pouches were dipped into a solution containingwater, natural peppermint flavor #2006, caramel color #325, aspartameand Frutarom tobacco flavor 36.210.

[0023] Sample 3 was the same as sample 1 except that Irish Crème flavor867.150/WC supplied by Flavors of North America of Carol Stream, IL wasincluded in addition to the Colombian Instant coffee 1A-BBB.Compositions according to sample 3 were also packaged into pouchessimilar to those used for samples 1 and 2 with the pouches beingpretreated by dipping in a solution containing water, Colombian InstantCoffee Irish Crème flavor 867.150WC, aspartame and Frutarom tobaccoflavor 36.120, followed by drying the dipped pouches prior to filling.

[0024] Sample 4 was made with cabbage granules having a size of a minus12 to plus 20 mesh and after mixing were not placed into pouches butwere packaged into air tight containers or into film having a goodbarrier to entry of atmospheric moisture.

[0025] Sample 5 was produced with 40% by weight cabbage granules havinga size of minus 16 to plus 20 mesh and was packaged into an airtightcontainer.

[0026] Sample 6 was the same as sample 5, except that propylene glycolwas substituted for the glycerine.

[0027] Sample 7 was the same as sample 6 with propylene glycol insteadof glycerin with a slight adjustment in the content of the aspartame andthe propylene glycol.

[0028] Sample 8 was a replication of sample 7 using glycerin instead ofthe propylene glycol.

[0029] All of the above samples were tested by users of smokelesstobacco and were found to be acceptable substitutes.

[0030] As stated herein before, the core of the invention is using acellulosic plant material in place of gums or synthetic carriers toprovide the carrier for the flavor.

[0031] Maintaining a minimum quantity of the cell walls of thecellulosic material in tact provides a place for the flavoring to becaptured and to provide the extended release aspect of the presentinvention.

[0032] Having thus described our invention what is desired to be securedby Letters Patent of the United States is set forth in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed:
 1. A chewable flavor delivery system comprising incombination: a carrier consisting of an edible cellulosic plant materialdried to a moisture content of at or below 8% by weight; said plantmaterial having at least 30% intact cell walls; a water soluble but notwater containing flavoring ingredient in liquid form and capable ofentering said cell walls of said plant material; and an effective amountof a food safe humectant.
 2. A delivery system according to claim 1,wherein said cellulosic plant material is formed into strands.
 3. Adelivery system according to claim 1, wherein said cellulosic materialis in a granular form.
 4. A delivery system according to claim 3,wherein said cellulosic material is sized to pass a 16 mesh and beretained on a 30 mesh screen of a U.S. Standard Sieve Series of screens.5. A delivery system according to claim 4, wherein said cellulosicmaterial is sized to pass a 16 mesh screen and be retained on a 20 meshscreen.
 6. A delivery system according to claim 4, wherein saidcellulosic material is sized to pass a 20 mesh screen and be retained ona 30 mesh screen.
 7. A delivery system according to claim 1, whereinsaid humectant is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycoland glycerin.
 8. A delivery system according to claim 1, including aminor amount of a sweetening agent.
 9. A delivery system according toclaim 1, wherein said cellulosic plant material is freeze dried greencabbage classified as Brassica oleracea capitata.
 10. A flavor deliverysystem comprising in combination: a heat sealable paper pouch adapted tobe placed in the mouth of a user; and a mixture comprising an ediblecellulosic plant material having at least 30% intact cells, a flavoringingredient, incorporated into said plant material and a humectant,inserted into said paper pouch.
 11. A flavor delivery system accordingto claim 10, wherein said cellulosic material is in a granular form. 12.A flavor delivery system according to claim 11, wherein said cellulosicmaterial is sized to pass a 16 mesh and be retained on a 30 mesh screenof a U.S. Standard Sieve Series of screens.
 13. A flavor delivery systemaccording to claim 12, wherein said cellulosic material is sized to passa 16 mesh screen and be retained on a mesh screen.
 14. A flavor deliverysystem according to claim 12, wherein said cellulosic material is sizedto pass a 20 mesh screen and be retained on a 30 mesh screen.
 15. Aflavor delivery system according to claim 10, wherein said humectant isselected from the group consisting of propylene glycol and glycerin. 16.A flavor delivery system according to claim 10, including a minor amountof a sweetening agent.
 17. A flavor delivery system according to claim10 wherein, said cellulosic plant material is freeze dried green cabbageclassified as Brassica oleracea capitata.
 18. An oral tobacco substitutecomprising in combination: an edible cellulose plant material dried to amoisture content at or below 8% by weight, said plant material having atleast 30% intact cell walls; a water soluble but not water containingflavoring ingredient in liquid form and capable of entering said cellwalls of said plant material; and an effective amount of a food safehumectant.
 19. A tobacco substitute according to claim 18, wherein saidcellulosic plant material is formed into strands.
 20. A tobaccosubstitute according to claim 18, wherein said cellulosic material is ina granular form.
 21. A tobacco substitute according to claim 20, whereinsaid cellulosic material is sized to pass a 16 mesh and be retained on a30 mesh screen of a U.S. Standard Sieve Series of screens.
 22. A tobaccosubstitute according to claim 21, wherein said cellulosic material issized to pass a 16 mesh screen and be retained in a 20 mesh screen. 23.A tobacco substitute according to claim 21, wherein said cellulosicmaterial is sized to pass a 20 mesh screen and be retained on a 30 meshscreen.
 24. A tobacco substitute according to claim 18, wherein saidhumectant is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol andglycerin.
 25. A tobacco substitute according to claim 18, including aminor amount of a sweetening agent.
 26. A tobacco substitute accordingto claim 18, wherein said cellulosic plant material is freeze driedgreen cabbage classified as Brassica oleracea capitata.
 27. A tobaccosubstitute comprising in combination: 26 to 46 percent by weightcellulosic plant material having at least about 30% intact cell walls;29 to 53% by weight humectant; 11 to 14% by weight being one of coffeeor caffeine 0.7 to 1% by weight sweetening agent; and 5 to 10% by weightflavoring ingredient other than tobacco.
 28. A tobacco substituteaccording to claim 27, wherein said cellulosic plant material is freezedried green cabbage classified in Brassica oleracea capituta.
 29. Atobacco substitute according to claim 28, wherein said cabbage is ingranular form.
 30. A tobacco substitute according to claim 29, whereinsaid cabbage granulars are sized to pass a 16 mesh and be retained on a30 mesh screen of a U.S. Standard Sieve Series of screens.
 31. A tobaccosubstitute according to claim 30, wherein said cellulosic material issized to pass a 16 mesh screen and be retained on a 20 mesh screen. 32.A tobacco substitute according to claim 30, wherein said cellulosicmaterial is sized to pass a 20 mesh screen and be retained on a 30 meshscreen.
 33. A tobacco substitute according to claim 28, wherein saidcabbage is formed into strands.
 34. A tobacco substitute according toclaim 28, including up to 1% by weight tobacco flavoring.
 35. A tobaccosubstitute according to claim 28, including an effective amount of acoloring agent to give said cellulosic material to appearance of chewingtobacco.